ARESRACES

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ARES/RACES
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ARES/RACES CommVan
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ARES/RACES CommVan
The ARES/RACES CommVan.
A brief History.
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ARES/RACES CommVan
1979 Ford Econoline Van
Once an Arizona State Van
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ARES/RACES CommVan
CommVan Operation and Setup
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ARES/RACES CommVan
At the end of this presentation you will be able
to.
Activate and operate the ARES/RACES CommVan.
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Initial Set-Up
INITIAL SET-UP

• The first step is to power up the radio
  equipment

• The radio panel power switch is located in the
  rear compartment..

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Initial Set-Up (cont.)

• This switch controls power from the batteries to
  the entire radio panel as well as overhead
  lighting. It must be in the ON position for the
  equipment to operate

• ALWAYS turn this switch to the OFF position when
  operation is concluded

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Initial Set-Up (cont.)
CAUTION BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WORKING AROUND THE
RACK AND EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR THERE ARE MANY
SHARP OBJECTS YOU CAN GET CUT ON


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Porta Pole Set-Up
SETTING UP AND USING THE PORTA POLE EXTENDABLE
MAST..

• The extendable mast is stored inside the rear
  door of the Van

• The base of the mast will slide into the mount
  located on the right rear of the van..

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Porta Pole Set-Up (cont.)

• The hose clamps located on the mast remain in
  place and are to keep the sections from sliding
  to far into one another..

• Do not loosen these clamps..

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Porta Pole Set-Up (cont.)

• Also located in the rear is a dual band antenna
  with a short mast section which slides onto the
  top of the Porta Pole before you begin raising
  the mast

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Porta Pole Set-Up (cont.)

• When extending the mast, slowly pull up one
  section at a time beginning with the top section
  and align the vertical black line with the hole
  for the snap lock..

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Porta Pole Set-Up (cont.)

• The mast should not need guy ropes unless it
  is extremely windy..

• If it is breezy, raise the mast only as far as
  practical..

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Antenna Set-Up
The coaxial cable from the dual band antenna
connects to the VHF/UHF connector on the side of
the van..
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Antenna Set-Up (cont.)

• Once the antenna is hooked up, switch the two
  antenna switches in the rear of the van to the
  MAST position..

• Always return these switches to the ROOF TOP
  position when taking down the mast

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HF Antenna Set-Up

• The HF Hamstick antennas for 40 and 80 meters
  are located in the pvc tube in the rear of the
  van..

• Antennas are labeled for 40 0r 80 meters and the
  stinger is color coded to its respective base..

• The antennas screw into the ball mount located
  on the drivers side of the van..

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HF Antenna Set-Up
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HF Antenna Set-Up

• The coaxial cable from the ball mount is
  connected to the Icom IC-718 in the right
  operating console..

• Unless necessary.. Do not move the CommVan at
  highway speeds with the HF antennas in place..

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Electrical Hook-Up

• AC power is connected to the van through the 30
  amp connector located just to the right of center
  on the rear bumper.. Use the adapter and line
  cord located in the rear of the van for this
  connection..

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Electrical Hook-Up (cont.)

• The AC control panel is located just behind the
  drivers seat on the wall..

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Electrical Hook-Up (cont.)

• For AC operation, both the MAIN and
  UTILITY switches must be in the ON position..

• Return these switches to the OFF position when
  disconnecting the AC/Generator power

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Electrical Hook-Up (cont.)
CAUTION
DO NOT RUN THE AIR CONDITIONER UNLESS CONNECTED
TO A 30 AMP OUTLET USING THE HEAVY DUTY AC
CONNECTING CABLE
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Radio Operation

• On initial startup all of the radios will
  (should) be in the off position. Each radio is
  turned on using its own power switch

• When operating on just internal battery power,
  turn on only the necessary radio equipment

• Manuals for each radio are located in a binder
  in the CommVan

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Radio Operation (cont.)



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Radio Operation (cont.)
Portable repeater Switch

• Motorola Syncom VHF Portable repeater output

• Kenwood TM-V7A VHF/VHF

• ICOM IC-718 HF

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Radio Operation (cont.)

• Aircraft Monitor

• Kenwood TM-V7A UHF/UHF

• Back-up HF Xcvr

• Motorola Syncom VHF Portable
  repeater input

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Radio Operation (cont.)

• Vertex VX-4000 UHF

• Vertex VX-4000 VHF

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Radio Operation (cont.)

• For communications on the road a YAESU FT-7100
  dual band radio is located on the front console

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Portable Repeater Operation

• To operate the two Motorola Syncom radios as a
  portable repeater, the input frequency is put in
  to the left console radio using the thumbwheel
  switches..

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Portable Repeater Operation

• The output frequency is put into the radio in
  the right console and the repeater switch turned
  to the NORMAL position..

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Portable Repeater Operation
Syncom antenna connection. View inside rear of
CommVan
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Review
Short Review

• Initialize power to the radio console

• Set up portable mast and dual band antenna if
  needed

• Install HF antenna

• Hook up external power if available

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Review
Short Review

• Reverse the procedure for take down

• Stow equipment in the rear of the van

• Make sure the plastic cases are tied in

• Make sure the console power switch is in the OFF
  position